The development of Russian gymnasiums in the mid-19th - early 20th centuries in the east of Moscow governorate and the town of Kolomna

Considering the growing interest in the history of the metropolitan area, the research examines the key stages of gymnasium development in the eastern part of Moscow Governorate and the town of Kolomna in the mid-19th - early 20th centuries. The historical development paths of the first gymnasiums in the eastern towns of Moscow Governorate are compared. The paper focuses on the social and economic background to secondary education and its reasons. The study discusses the dynamics of the involvement of different social strata in the development of education in the above-mentioned territories. The emphasis is placed on teaching staff represented by different social classes. The research elaborates on the establishment of women’s gymnasiums in Kolomna. The author revealed that there were many private women’s schools in Moscow Governorate demonstrating a high demand for female education that could not be satisfied within the system of public schools.